Big South Fork

Nan and I took an autumn trip to the Big South Fork. We had wanted to go there on several occasions and just decided to go. It was quite interesting. We put in some miles hiking there and it was nice without backpacks for a change. This is a horse lovers paradise; lots of trails available to ride on - we took our mountain bikes but were a bit disappointed at the trails for them. The best hiking trails with the most interesting formations did not allow horses, so that was good. This picture is of one of the twin arches - fascinating formations.

Going Back

We're headed back to the Sierras for another great hike. We have about 30 miles planned. Hiking out of the Mineral King area - one of the supposedly gorgeously fabulous areas in the Sierra Nevada range of light.

Mike and Erin will be going as well as Lucy. We are just about packed and ready! We have been working out everyday to get ready to cross the mountain passes. We're still working on the exact route, but we'll put it up to the group to decide exactly which way we'll proceed. That way everyone will be vested in the adventure.

Stay tuned for our next adventure in Hiking America!!!

Awesome Adventure!!!

We hiked down the south Kaibab trail with Lucy, her daughter Mary and her friend Ian. It was a gorgeous morning and we had a marvelous time. By the time the afternoon came, most of us were at the Bright Angel Campground. By then, Nan's knees and legs were fried. I went back up into the red limestone formation and doused her with water and took her pack. It was 105°F at the bottom, but the Bright Angel Creek was spring fed - cool and refreshing. Our planned trek out to Clear Creek was put on hold and we convinced the ranger that we needed to stay put at the Bright Angel campground - they agreed and we had two fabulous days of day hiking and cooling off in the wonderful spring fed waters. It took us two days to hike out the north Kaibab trail via Cottonwood campground. The scenery was beyond description - you just have to experience it to understand it. We both found the north Kaibab trail as we had experienced it in the year 2000 with Mike and Maren - wonderful, scenic, and challenging. We were all awe inspired for another few months until the trail will call us back for more scenic adventures. Join us! It will be in the Sierras in September - Mineral King area.

We're going back

Its been five years since Nan and I ventured down the South Kaibab trail in the Grand Canyon. We have done two other major trips to the GC since then, but this year we are going back to do the entire Kaibab trail - rim to rim. We're going to start on the south rim and head to the north rim with a 9 mi detour out to the clear creek drainage on the north rim. Our friend and extraordinary hiking partner Lucy (from Montgomery AL) is going with us. Her daughter and her friend Ian are also going to join this hiking troop. It should be a fabulous time in the GC. We've never been there in May and we're looking forward to it. Temps on the rim are running 70 day/30 night; at the Colorado river it is more like 90/60°F. For those of you who have not been to the GC, you better get your butts there - its a magical mysterious place full of awesome scenery that you cannot describe to anyone - you just have to 'experience' it and the best way to do that is to wander down into the bowels of its inner canyon. There are Vishnu Shists (rock types) there that are 2 billion years old - some of the oldest rocks on the planet - this is one of the few places on the planet where you can actually touch, see, and experience the wonder of geological time and space. We're already talking about a repeat of the Hermit trail for next year. If you want to get in on this fun-filled adventure - you'd better let us know. These permits are some of the most difficult that we have to plan and plan for so that we can get the back country permit trips that we want. The number of people that want these permits is truly phenomenol. I faxed our request Jan 1 2006 at 0700 a.m. this year - thankfully it was early enough - but, I have to admit I fell asleep and thought it might be too late!!! People from all over the planet want to hike the Grand Canyon and once you've been there you know why.

Proposed hikes near Mineral King CA Sept 2006

OK - Here are two (of thousands!) hikes I have researched and full descriptions with pictures are posted on this website: http://www.sierra-trails.com/sierratrails.html

One is much shorter - 20+ miles might take 4 days, maybe less. We would probably have time to go visit Yosemite valley after or before this hike.

The other one is longer 40+ miles might take 6 days or less. Profiles are provided too.

Feedback is encouraged. Do some research and make a proposal for other hikes in the high Sierra. The goal for us is to get above treeline and enjoy the magnificent views of the Sierra Crest, Great Western Divide etc.

Cancun

We had a great trip to Cancun in February. We even went to a bullfight. It was very interesting; informative and interesting. It was funny to see the gringos who volunteered try to fight a small 150# bull. The bull won - no doubt about it. When the real bull was let out most everyone's eyes were as big as silver dollars. It is a deadly dance - no matter who gets killed.

Grand Cayon: rim to rim in May. Permit is full so if you want to join us on a hike, you'll have to wait until Sept when we head back into the high Sierras - Mineral King area....maybe Deadman Canyon Loop.

Somers Travel?

What is this, the Somers travel blog!?

Well - I have been crazy busy since about September trying to prepare for a project site assessment in Western Africa. I am coordinating a team of about 30 engineering students for Engineers Without Borders to develop a sustainable water source for a community of about 10,000 in Enugu State, Nigeria. Six of us are planning to travel for a week at the end of March, as well another 5 or 6 for a couple weeks in May to determine various design parameters and options for a solution that will work for this specific community.


EWB is an interesting organization that attempts to implement sustainable humanitarian engineering solutions through non-sustainable means: flying kids accross the world to solve problems in a completely foreign environment. There are benefits: the students have access to funds the community can't even imagine and the fact that people from another country are willing to help out creates morale within the village to organize themselves to create the changes they wish to see.

Ultimately, I hope to study alternate methods for technology transfer to rural communities, but for now, I'm going to continue working on these projects for at least another year, until I graduate.

Nan and I are headed back to the Mayan Riviera in a couple weeks. We're really looking forward to another fantastic trip. It is such a relaxing get away in the middle of winter; great fun to go swim in the Carribean Sea, play in the pool, visit the Mayan ruins, dive the reefs, and not worry about a thing.

City Scapes

We decided to check out some of those city scapes ourselves! We wandered through the concrete and steel with Pat and Traci for a couple of days - Maren, Nan, and Peter. We had a great time - ok we admit - concrete and steel can be fun sometimes too!